Driving-gear for automobiles.



No. 735,774. PATEN'I'ED AUG. 11, 1903.

K. G. JOHNSTON.

DRIVING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. l0, l902.

N0 MODEL.

6 1 any) VVLTNESSES: [vVE/vT /e 'hicles or automobiles, although "machines of UNITED STATES Patented August 1 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

KIRICG. JOHNSTON, 0F PIQUA, OIIIO.

DRIVING-GEAR F-OR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. V Application filed December 10, 1902. Serial No.

735,774, dated August 11, 1908. 134.681. (roman) To all whom it nmy concern.- 1 Be it known that I, KIRK G. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing atPiqua, in

the county of Miami and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving-Gear for-Automobiles. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tonovel gearing designed chiefly for mechanically-propelled veadapted for every type constructed to be propelled over the having opposite wheels connected by interposed gearing, whereby both are positively driven at the same or different rates of speed, according as the machine is traveling straight or in curved lines.

This invention provides a rigid solid axle for the wheels to carry the load and admit ofthe wheels receiving the proper gather, thereby relieving the drive-gearing of v the load strain.

For a full description o'f'the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be'had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

VVhile'the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modi- 'fieatiomjstill the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which substantially on the line X Figural is a' front view of a pair of drivewheels, axle therefor, and the gearing connecting the said drive-wheels, parts being in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one-half of theaxle and the .adjunctive parts,-a portion of the drive-wheel being broken .away and parts being in section. Fig. 3 is a section X of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line Y Y of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are-referred to. in the following description and indicated in all-the views of the drawings by the same refererice'charactrs.

' The axle 1 is solid and rigid throughout its length and is provided intermediate of its ends with an offset portion 2, upon which is firmly and rigidly mounted a bracket 3. The

spindles or axle-arms 4 incline downward toward their outer ends tog'i've the proper ground in'any manner and in Fig. 1.

wheel. v ing sprin g or springs 16.

ofthe axle and the ground-wheels,

the character aforesaid.

gather to the wheels 5, as indicated in Fig. 1;,

Brackets 6 are rigidly secured to the. end por-'v tions of theaxle inside the spindles and are provided with bearings 7, in which are joura nalcd the outer ends of shafts 8. The innerends of said shafts are provided with" a dif provided with-a fiexi axle, as shown mostclearly ,so as to cause both to the outer end of the shaft '8 and meshes with a spur-gear 14, secured to the hub of the drivewheel 5. A housing 15 is secured to the hub of the drive-wheel and incloses the gearing 13 and 14 and may be utilized as'a The brackets 6 receive the'support brake From the foregoingit will be understood that the load is'supported directly by'means the gearing connecting the drive-wheels being free from the Weight and the strain incident thereto and serving solely to positivelyconnect the drive wheels substantially in the manner stated. .The flexible portions 12 in the length of the shafts 8 admit of direct engagement ofthe gear elements without bending strain, thereby reducing the friction to a minimum,

which is-highly important mechanism of Having thus described is'claimedas new is- 1 i 1. In drivesgear'of; the character described, and in combination with a rigidaxle' provided with inclined spindles, and drive wheels mounted directly upon saidspindles, brack-'- the invention, what ets rigidly applijedtothe aile nearits ends independent ofthe drivewheels and intermediate of said-ends,- drive-shafts journaled' in saidbrackets and having-a flexible portion intermediate; 'of the bearings, differential 1 gearing connecting the ,in-nerfends of, said shafts; and gearing connecting the'outer'ends of the shafts with the drive-wheels, substantial ly as specified.

2, In driving gear of the character described, the combination with the rigid axle having inclined spindles, and drive-shafts connected at their inner ends by differential gearing,idrive-wheels mounted upon the said spindles and geared to the outer ends of the drive-shafts, and a housing secured to each drive-'Wheel and inclosing the gearing, sub- ;stantially as set forth.

1 3. In drivinggear of the character described, the combination of a rigid axle having its spindle-arms inclined and its middle portion ofiset, brackets firmly attached to the axle near and intermediate of its ends, driveshaftsjournaled in said brackets and connected at their inner ends by means of diflferential gearing and having the portion intermediate of the bearings flexible, drive-Wheels mounted upon the spindle-arms, and gearing connecting the drive-wheels with the outer ends of the respective drive-shafts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 2 5 in presence of two witnesses.

' KIRK G. JOHNSTON. \Vitnesses:

F. E. KITZMILLER, R. A. FORSYTH. 

